Panic in Yankee Universe?

Underdogs? In The Bronx? Unheard of right? Wrong.

All is not well in the land of 27 rings, an eerie uncertainty hangs in the air from Jersey to River Avenue on the cusp of this brand new season.

The Yanks are fielding the same exact 95 win team from 2010, all one year older, and minus one of their best starting pitchers. A 2010 team that quite frankly paled in comparison to the 2009 Juggernaut that claimed the title. Meanwhile, in Beantown, the Red Sox's have had a tremendous offseason, signing Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, further frustrating every fan with an interlocking NY cap, as if being unable to sign Cliff Lee wasn't enough,  Yankee fans must now deal with the fact that Boston has a better team in 2011.

As a result the Yanks now find themselves...almost vulnerable, as pitchers and catchers reported for the first time today, the Yankees ONLY reliable starter and ace of the staff C.C. Sabathia seemed uncertain about his future and gave hints of opting out of his contract at the end of the season.

Definitely not the usual start to Spring Training the Yankees are used to, before you hit the panic button, let's look at the team as a whole shall we. The offense scored more runs than any team in major league baseball last year, so putting runs on the board surely won't be an issue for the Bombers. The Bullpen, already was decent, but now can arguably be put among the best, with the additions of Rafael Soriano and Pedro Feliciano solidifying the back end. The Starting rotation, the MAJOR OUCH for the Yankees and can ultimately be the downfall of the team this year.

1. C.C. Sabathia
2. Phil Hughes
3. A.J. Burnett (yuck)
4. Ivan Nova ( barely tested)
5. Sergio Mitre ( yuck)

^This is where the Yankees are going to deeply miss Andy Pettitte and Cliff Lee and perhaps turn them from a 95 win team to a 89-90 win team fighting to just reach the postseason.

The fate hangs in the balance of Yankees GM Brian Cashman, will he go after somebody before the trade deadline? The bottom line, the Yankees need another arm DESPERATELY, and the likes of Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon, and Mark Prior aren't going to help.